Handicap access to be reviewed at Exeter town offices

Will be included in facilities plan

EXETER — Conservation Commission member Don Briselden has convinced selectmen and Town Manager Russ Dean to include a study on how accessible town buildings are for people with disabilities as part of an overall town facilities study.

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By Jeff McMenemy

seacoastonline.com

By Jeff McMenemy

Posted Sep. 24, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Jeff McMenemy
Posted Sep. 24, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

EXETER — Conservation Commission member Don Briselden has convinced selectmen and Town Manager Russ Dean to include a study on how accessible town buildings are for people with disabilities as part of an overall town facilities study.

Briselden recently sent selectmen an e-mail stating, "I'm sure you are aware that the town offices or the public bathrooms are not accessible for people with disabilities."

"While there is a ramp to the front door of the town offices, the door does not have a powered door opener," Briselden said in the e-mail.

He also said because the bathrooms are not accessible for people with disabilities it's particularly a problem when events or festivals are held at the Town Hall.

"While the town may not be required by law to meet the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements, I suggest that it has a public responsibility to do so," Briselden wrote in the e-mail.

Selectmen agreed that Briselden raised important points about access to public buildings, but the question remains what can the town afford to do in terms of fixing these access issues and how quickly can they address them, Selectmen Chairman Don Clement said recently.

But Clement said he agreed the access issues should be addressed.

"I think we have an obligation, a moral obligation to try to accommodate all of our residents," Clement said. "And we do have a lot of older buildings."

He did not have an estimate on how much it would cost to fix the problems, but said by looking at the ADA issues in town buildings as part of an overall facilities study, it could help them put "a plan in place."

"It could take several years to complete and probably chipping away at the projects is the best way to do it," Clement said.

He suggested addressing the buildings with the heaviest usage first and agreed that it is difficult for someone in a wheelchair to access the town offices.

"We can accommodate people but it's not easy getting up the ramp and then someone has to help you open the door, because there's no push button," Clement said.

Selectman Dan Chartrand agreed handicapped accessibility in town buildings is an important issue and he thanked Briselden for writing to selectmen about the issue.

"It's incredibly helpful when a constituent writes a letter like this, especially when it's someone like Don who has a professional background in the field," Chartrand said.

Briselden said when he served as director of facilities at Phillips Exeter Academy he noticed the accessibility issues, but is heartened that selectmen are making them part of their facilities study.

He stressed it's important to think of all the disabilities people in town sometimes face.

"We should not think of accessibility just in terms of people in wheelchairs," Briselden said. "Some have hearing impairments, some have visual disabilities. I believe we should make our facilities accessible to all of our citizens."